This is good. I’ve wondered for a while why games at Subiaco Oval weren’t broadcasted on free to air television. Finally, the AFL has scheduled this match at Subi to be on Channel 10. Typically, it’s not the most appealing match, with Essendon and Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium promising to be more of a goalfest.

After a tough 3.4 to 9.10 loss at the hands of Katunga in the morning, I travel back home with a sore head after being hip and shouldered, with the players’ shoulder making contact with the side of my head and nose. I did not receive a free kick.

The match started and Clinton Young snapped the first from the goalsquare, before Josh Kennedy booted two in a row, before Carl Peterson booted a beauty. Grant Birchall ventured forward, kicking a long goal on the run from 50. A late goal to Quentin Lynch from 50 out, close to the boundary line saw the scores locked at 3.1 each at the first break.

The second quarter began and Kennedy kicked his third and fourth goals, before Lynch put through his second from a free kick. So far the Eagles had a plan for each quarter, to have Kennedy kick the first two goals and then Lynch boot one. Jarryd Roughead marked, wheeled around and put through a long goal from 60m out, before a fifth to Kennedy saw the Eagles out to a 17 point lead. Brendan Whitecross goaled from a free kick, but a brilliant tap by Nic Naitanui to Mark LeCras saw the Frenchman snap his first goal just before half time, the Eagles leading 8.5 to 5.4.

The second half commenced and Birchall kicked his second from a 50m penalty. He wouldn’t have kicked multiple goals in his career much. Ben McKinley took a good mark and kicked his first of 2010, before LeCras marked and goaled, taking the margin out to 25. Roughead snapped his second after a bad turnover by Beau Waters, and then after being distracted by Mum, Beau Muston put through a goal, followed by Jarryd Morton, and the Hawks had all the momentum, trailing by seven at the last change, 9.7 to 10.8.

The last quarter began and LeCras booted his third after a good transition from the backline, followed by Kennedy’s sixth. LeCras added another goal to his highlights reel with a long goal on the run from a tight angle, and the game was done, West Coast leading by 25 points. Roughead replied quickly, but Dean Cox snapped a vintage goal from a boundary throw-in. Whitecross replied with his second, but McKinley goaled from a free kick, taking the margin back out to 25. The Hawks made a quick run of it, with Roughead kicking a belated goal, cutting the deficit back to 19. Then he marked and goaled, and it was 13 points. Young took a run down the field, before passing to Roughy, who put through his fourth of the quarter, and the margin was eight points. This was where the run ended for the Hawks though, as the unique sounding Subiaco siren blared, signaling the Hawks’ sixth loss in a row after that promising start against Melbourne. The Eagles winning an entertaining clash, 15.12.102 to 14.10.94.

Both these teams I predicted to either make the finals or finish top 4. It seems like none of those are going to happen. Hawthorn won’t finish above 12th, while the Eagles will be lucky to scrape into the single digits this year. The Eagles are currently in a better position. They have forwards who look like they can kick goals, with Kennedy in line for a top three finish for the Coleman Medal if he keeps up his form. LeCras should kick over 40, and Lynch and McKinley provide good support. They have a young, settling defence, and the midfield has some serious talent, but some players need to make their disposal more damaging. Bradd Dalziell had 22 possessions. I cannot remember hearing his name mentioned by the commentators once. There is a fair chance Kelli Underwood mistook him for someone else though.

Facebook and Twitter

Want to know when new stories are posted?

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Note: this is not our eNewsletter sign up. Use the form on the other side to subscribe to our email eNewsletter as well!